From Higher Ed Dive: “Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, especially those at colleges, have faced an onslaught of conservative-led legislative and policy attacks in recent years. In 2025, that challenge is poised to gain strength with Trump back in the White House. On the first full day of his second term, Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to “combat illegal private sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, and activities,” labeling diversity initiatives, including those at colleges, as potential violations of civil rights laws. The order infringes on colleges’ educational mission and opens them up to lawsuits, Jeremy Young, director of state and higher education policy at PEN America, a free expression organization, told Higher Ed Dive at the time.”
